But give me holly, bold and jolly,
Honest, prickly, shining holly;
Pluck me holly leaf and berry
For the day when I make merry

"I will not part! -- There is no end!" She clings and clings...
And in the breast -- the rise
Of threatening waters,
Of notes...Steadfast: like an immutable
Mystery: we will part!

ওগো স্তন্যপায়ী ভাষা পিপীলিকাভূক মুখচোরা
ভূচর খেচর জলচর দাম্পত্যজীবনে তুষ্ট একশিঙা
নীলগাই বারাশিঙা চোরাকিশোরীর হাতে মূল্যবান প্রাণী
স্হলে বিচরণকারী উদবিড়াল গন্ধগোকুল বিনোদিনী
শব্দগহবর খেয়ে নোকরশাহির রাজ্য এনেছ এদেশে ।

২ ভাদ্র ১৩৯২

Lightning break the window
cat arched back in fear
apparition comes


(Previously published in Poems Md, Apr 2008)

The God of love, the clouds, the nipples, the beloved are all excited
The wind, the zephyr, the love, the beloved are all excited
The dot on her forehead, her forelock the carefully applied lippaint are all excited
The sweets, the kisses, the laughter, the beloved are excited
The blouse, its revealing condition, the lotus, the beetle are all excited
Qutub, her well-developed breasts [and] she herself are all excited

[I can't] drink even a sip from the wine-cup in the absence of my beloved
[I can't] live even for a moment in the absence of my beloved
[People] advise that I should have patience if the beloved isn't around
It's easy to say but O my friend it's difficult to practice
O Qutub Shah! Don't counsel an insane person like me
[For] an insane person cannot be counseled

Thou hast produced mighty monarchs, of whom thou art not unworthy,
For the obedient alone make him who governs them great.
But, O Germany, try if thou for thy rulers canst make it
Harder as kings to be great,--easier, though, to be men!

What time the gifted lady took
Away from paper, pen, and book,
She spent in amorous dalliance
(They do those things so well in France).

When I admit neglect of Gissing,
They say I don't know what I'm missing.
Until their arguments are subtler,
I think I'll stick to Samuel Butler.

(Baldwin daydreams on Crete.)
Like Dionysius I & II of Greek Syracuse
Oh, to be a tyrant of wine, women & song
Now that’s a career path even I could choose,
Free from that oppressive bureaucratic pong.